Edging-machine for lumber.



W. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1910.

1 ,203,940. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET I.

61 Hon Lu;

m: mwlvs PETERS m, Puma-u 1N0. WASHING mu. m. c.

W. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER.

MPPLICATIQN FILED MAR. 55. 1910.

l ,28,940. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1m Nlkn's PETERS c0 Pncn) LITMO whwmum/v. u c

-W. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1910.

1,203,940. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET -3- m: NnRflIS PEYERS can FHOm-LIYMQ. WASHING mu, 0 c.

W. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER. APPLICAHON FILED MAR. 5. 1910'.

In: mums FE1ERS ca. PHOTO LIYNO.WASN1NCTON. n. c.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4. F1 'm W. H. TROUT.

Enema MACHINE FOR LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 5.19m.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETSSHEET 5 W. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER. APPLICATION FILED MR. 5, I910.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6' uni m: NORRIS psysns m. Puma-urns" WASHING mu. :1. u

W. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1910.

1,263,949. Patented Nov; 3", 1916.

9 SHEET-SSHEET 7.

I it i W. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER.

APPLLCATION FILED MAR. 5. mo.

1 203,940. I Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETSSH EET 8.

w. H. TROUT.

EDGING MACHINE FOR LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.5,1910.

' Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 $HEETS-$HEET 9.

m: NORRIS rsrsns C0-.PNO1D-LI1NO-.WASHINGION. a, c,

WETED @TATES PATENT @FFECFQ.

WILLIAM HENRY TROUT, OF MILWAUKEE, "WISCONSIN, ASSIGNGR TOALLIS-GHALMERS IVIANUFACTURING COMPANY, MILWAUKEE, NIECONSIN, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

EDGING-MACHINE FOP LUMBER.

weenie.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. *7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY 'inoo'r, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, haveinvented an Edgingdrlachine for Lumber, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the machine used for trimming the edges ofsawed lumber, commonly known. in lumber-mills as the edger.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of this characterfree from many of the defects and deficiencies of those heretofore inuse, and having in addition certain. novel improvements andconveniences.

More particularly I aim, first, to provide improved means for holdingthe saws upon the saw-shaft in rigid alinement, while at the same timepermitting them to slide freely upon the shaft and to approach closelyto one another; secondly, to provide means for lubricating the slidingof the saws upon the shaft without danger of either wasting or slingingthe lubricant, and with out the necessity of frequent reoiling; thirdly,to provide improved means for supporting the saw-shaft hearings whichwill permit of the ready removal of the saws from the shaft when saidbearings are removed; fourthly. to provide an improved crane forsupporting said bearings during their removal and to enablethem to bereadily removed and replaced in a few minutes time; fifthly, to providea novel arrangement of saw-guides which can he by a simpleshifting-movement raised out of the of the saw when the latter is to betaken off of the shaft, and provided with a simple adjustment for takingup wear; sixthly, to provide improved saw-guide carriers having a lockto set them at given spacings as well as a special lock to set them atfractional spacings, improved lubricatmeans and a novel device forovercoming the dificultv produced by the width of the saw-kerf whichprevents the use of the fixed spacings for both one-board and twoboardcuttings on the ordinary edger as heretofore made; seventhly. to provideimproved means for changing the rate of feed of the lumber; andeighthly, to provide special means for raising the feedq'olls when verythick beams or joists are to be sawed.

To these and other ends as will hereinafter appear I provide suchconstructions and combinations as are set forth in the fol lowingdetailed description and specifically pointed out in my claims.

The nature of my said improvements will best be understood from aconsideration of a concrete embodiment thereof representing the mostimproved form of my edging1nachine, represented in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a front-end elevation of the complete machine; Fig. 2 is arear-end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a front-side elevation thereof;Fig. 4L is a plan-view thereof; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of thesaw-guides and a part of the guide-carrier, the guidingrod thereforbeing shown in section; Fig. (3 is an end elevation thereof; 7 is a planthereof; F 8 a pc spective view of one of the wear-block for the same;Fig. 9 is a side view and Fig. 10 an end view from the left of Fig. 9,of the inner member of the guide-carrier; Figs. 11 and 12 are verticalcross-sections on the planes 11 and 12 re spectively, of the elementsshown in Fig. 5; Fig. 18 is a plan-section of the same on the steppedplane 13; 14 is a vertical crosssection on the plane 14% of thegaging-hub of guide-carrier, the gage-rod being shown in transversesection; Fig. 15 is a section of the same at rightfangles to that of 1%,taken on the plane 15; Fig. 16 is a section of some of the parts shownin Fig 14 on the same plane, indicating the position of the special lockwhen in use for gaging fractional widths of lumber; Fig. 17 is an innerface-view of the gage-hub; Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of a part ofthe gagingrod; Fig. 19 is a vertical axial section through a part of thesame showing the action of the ball-gage; Fig. 20 is a side elevation onan enlarged scale of the special-set lockingbar; Fig. 21 is a plan viewof the complete set of guide-carriers in position; Fig. 22 is alongitudinal section through the saw-shaft, saw-collars and saws,illustrating the improved mountings for the saws; Figs. 23 and 2% aretransverse sections of the same on the planes and 24%. respectively;Fig. 25 is an axial section through the saw-collar and saw on the planethe saw-shaft being shown in elevation, to illustrate my improvedlubricating means; Fig. 26 is a trans verse section therethrough on theplane 26: Fig. 27 is a side elevation of one of the end bridge-trees forthe saw-shaft with bearing- ,cap and crane for removing the same; Fig.

view showing the parts in raised position;

Fig. 34 is a fragmentary axia section of the cylinder and valves of saidmechanism taken on plane at right-angles to that of Fig. 33, the partsbeing in raised position, and Fig.

'85 is an axial section throu h the u oer Jart of the c linder on a lar'er scale showin the a CD 7 2S cushioning position of the latter; Fig.36 is a fragmentary section on the plane 36 of a part of thebelt-shifting mechanism; Fig. 37 is a detail View, partly in section, ofthe feed-rolLdriving gears.

In these drawings each reference numeral andcharacter refers to the samepart or element in each figure. V

The edger shown in the drawings is a single edger, )rorided with sixsaws by Way of illustration, and it will be understood of course thatthe same principles may be applied to the double-edger and to any numberof saws without departing from my invention. The main frame comprisesthe three transverse frame-castings A, A; a

pair of lon itudinal channels B set in babbitt-lined recesses a, in theframecastings and secured thereto by cap-screws (6 a pair .oflongitudinal bars C, which .I prefer to make of double-extra-heavygas-pipe, and

which are firmly secured to the castings A by means of bolting-caps aand set in long cylindrical sockets a between the framecastings and caps(L3; and a longitudinal shaft D, also preferably made ofdoubleextra-heavy gas-pipe, rigidly secured in long cylindrical socketsa formed between. the.

frame-castingsand a bolting-cap a. The shaft G acts as a pintle or pivotfor the.

press-roll swing-arms, as will be hereinafter described, lVhile myinvention is not restricted to this or any form of frame, the abovedescribed makes a simple and solid form.

The saw-shaft E is mounted in bearings f on a pair of bridge-trees F,carried by the frame-"astings A, and a third bearing (47 formed on theframe-casting A and provided with a cap a Said saw-shaft carriesaetvreen' the frame-castings A, A, the usual (ll'lVlIlg-PllllQY e, andupon its overhung rear end it carries a feed-roll-driving pulley '0,which. will be hereinafter described.

Upon this shaft, set in collars G, are slidably mounted the saws L, andthese saws are shifted by means of saw-guidesH carried upon thesaw-guide carriers 1, WlllCh slice upon'a longitudinal guide-rod z", the

ends of which are secured in sockets a in the frame-castings A by meansof transverse bolts 2' Said guide carriers are themselves shlfted andset by means of gaginghubs J, which slid-e upon a longitudinal rod j,this rod being mounted upon and supported at its middle and ends bypedestals j bolted to the channel B, one end of which 7 is extendedbeyondthe front frame-casting A for that purpose (see Fig. 3). The p'edestals i have bolting caps j which hold the gage-rod y" against endwiseor rotational movement. 1

Before referring to the feed-mechanism T will describe in detail thesaw-mountings and shifting-incchanisi'n therefor;

Heretoforesaws have been guided and shifted upon the shaft by means ofguides comprising a pairof Wooden pins abut ing on each side of the saw,these pins being wise they would beprevented from with drawal' by theswaging or broadened points of the teeth. Furthermore such aconstruction has the disadvantage that it has recesses and projections'i'nf'u'hich flying shimsland pieces of bark become entangled,thus'inter-Y ferlng with the movements of the saw and even with. thesawing operations; In my construction, the said pins are replaced byfiat Wedge-blocks which give a much larger bearing-surface, thuspreventing undue Wear upon the sau and guides, andl mount each blockseparatelyrin special form of'mount ing enabling-it to swing upwardlyand at the same time retire away from the face of the saw, therebyclearing the saw, so that the latter can be taken of? the :shaft.Furthermore Iprovide means for lubricat ing the guide, and a simpleandconvenient means for adjusting it and to take up Wear. Th s device sillustrated in detail inFlgs. 5 to 13 nclus1ve (Sheetfi).

The guide carrier I as aforesaid slides on the guide-rod i" and hasaniannular hub 23 on each side Whlch acts as a iplvot-bearing for theguide, the latter being recessed as shown at it, Figs. 11 and 1'3,andtheinner" face 72 of the hubs of the guides be ng bored to fit theguide-rod 2",. so that while the guide-carrier I actually. slides upon.and

is guided by said guide rod in'itsfmove ments, doesnot touch the latter.This insures the accurate centering of the guide.

Furthermore, "said carrier 1, has on the sawside a pair of obliqueprojecting cam-lugs '17 which are received in correspondingly shapedrecesses 71. of the guide (see Figs. 9, 10, 12 and 13). All the bearingfaces of the guide-carrier are lined with babbitt 71 which is retainedupon the faces of the cam-lugs i. by providing the latter with holes i'oinin the o J Jositefaces see Fi 9 and 12).

The active end of each guide H carries a wedge-shaped bearing-block it,shown in detail in Fig. 8. Said block has a flat wearing-face 7L and awedge-shaped lug 72 fit ting within a correspondingly shaped socket [Zon the inner face of the guide and retained therein by a screw 72.running in a slot h in the guide, said screw passing through a hole 72.in the back of the wedgeblock and being engaged with a nut h fitting ina square recess h in the face of the block; whereby the block is readilytightened by a screw-driver applied to the head of the screw it as willbe clear from Fig. 13. Theweai'-blcck is adjusted to a position againstthe face of the saw by means of an adjusting-screw 724 threaded into asocket in opposite the back end of the block, the head of said screwlying within a recess 72. so that by looseningthe screw 7L3 with onescrew-driver, turning up the screw [L13 by another, and finallyretightening the screw 72. the block can be set in any desired positionin a few moments of time. Now it will be clear from the construction,and especially from a comparison of the dotted and full-line positionsin Figs. 5, 6, and 7,'t-hat as the guides H are swung up they alsoretire from the face of the saw and thereby clear the teeth thereof.When in their lowered position they are supported so that their upperfaces k form horizontal bearing surfaces for the lumber which is beingsawed, the guides in this case resting upon the ends of the lugs iFurther, the guide-carrier is provided with a rearwardly projecting heel2' which has a horizontal upper face i on the same level as the faces kacting both as a bearingsurface for the lumber and also a support forthe guides when they are swung upwardly, each guide having an internalshoulder h" which is engaged by the heel i in the second dotted-lineposition I of Fig. 5. Furthermore the heel i is internally recessed orcored so as to form a chamber i which is open at one end for theinsertion of waste 2 or other lubricant-holder, the lubricant beinginserted through a perforation i in the side of the guide-holder, thusproviding for the constant lubrication not only of the bearing-facesbetween the guide and carrier, but also between the guide and theguide-rod 2'. It will be seen from the above that each guide can beswung up independently ofthe other, and

in this swung-up position can be disengaged bodily from theguide-carrier and moved endwise if it is desired for attention to itsinterior face. i

The guide-carriers are themselves secured to and move with the gage-hubsJ, and both the construction of these gage-hubs and the peculiar mannerof securing them to the guide-holders, which provides for theeihnination of the saw-kerf and shrinkage as factors in sawing thelumber either into one or several boards, form important features of myinvention. 1 will first describe in detail the construction of thegage-hub J, reference being had in Figs. 1a to 20 inclusive (Sheet 6 ofthe drawings). Said gage-hub as aforesaid slides upon the gage rod 7',and this gage-rod has in its lower surface a series of evenly spacedspherical recesses y. The spacing of these recesses will. be at evenunits of measurement plus the lumber shrinkage for that distance. Forexample, if the standard difference in width of lumber is taken as twoinches, and the shrinkage inch per foot of width, then the recesses 7'will be spaced at 2 inches from center to center. With these recessesengages a hardened steel ball which is of the same radius as therecessesso as to fit neatly therein, and said ball is kept pressedresiliently into the recess in which it happens to be by a reciprocatingplunger mounted in a socket 7' on the bottom-side of the gage-hub. Saidplunger has an en larged head j which is guided by the inner cylindricalsurface of the socket and is of the same diameter as the ball 7' and thebody of the plunger fits within the bore of the screw-plug j, whosethreads engage a corresponding set of female threads on the lower end ofthe socket, a coiled compression-spring 7' being inserted between theplug j" and the plunger-head 7' so as to keep the latter pressedresiliently into one of the recesses j as aforesaid. The plug j may havea rectangular head j by which it is turned in or out and the tension ofthe spring thus adjusted.

Now while the above arrangement is in a certain sense complete in itselfbecause the gage-hub can be shifted sidewise from notch to notch withoutspecially depressing the ball 7' the sidewise pressure sufficing todepress the ball enough to enable it to pass from one recess to thenext, it is preferable to provide some means for depressing the ball,and such means, as here shown, comprise a shifting-handle j pivoted upona pin 7' carried upon supporting ears j on the gage-hub J; and a bentlink j, the upper end of which is pivoted by a pin 7' between a pair ofears j formed on the handle 7' 2, and its lower end connected by a pinto the lower end of the plunger 7 which is slotted as shown to permitthe plunger and ball to move independently.

'By tilting the handle j into the position shown indotted lines in Fig.14, the link j is depressed, and carries with it the plunger j asufficient distance to retract the ball 9' not completely but nearlyfrom the recess 7' For this purpose the depression of the plunger islimited by a stop consisting of a bolt 1' screwed into a lug 2 formed onthe lower end of the socket-lug 7' said boltpassing between the two arms7' of the forked end of the link y, and having an enlarged head j whichacts as an abutment for the link at the end of its downward movement;and a locknut 3' is provided to clamp the bolt 7' in its adjustedposition; in which position the ball will touchthe division and onaccount of the slot in lower end of plunger will spring downward andreturning giving a slight jar to the hand of the operator so that henotices the passage and has a mental conception of the distance moved.

In order to provide for those cases where boards of irregular or oddwidths are to be cut, I provide a special locking-device for securingthe gage-hub at any point of the bar j irrespective of the depressionsj". Such special-lock consists of a clampinglever j, which is pivoted ona pin 1' carried by the gage-hub, which latter is cut away at this pointso as to leave an open space 7' in which the clamping-lever works. Thisclamping-lever is provided with an eccentric edge 7' which, when thelever is pulled out in the position of Fig. 16, jams against thegage-rod j and thereby holds the gage-hub firmly in the position inwhich it is set. hen in its normal position, Fig. let, the end of'theclamping-lever j rests upon the top of the gage-hub, and in thisposition the face j is sufficiently retracted from the surface of thegage-rod to permit of free movement.

It will be seen from the above description of the gage-hub that I haveprovided for shrinkage of the lumber by setting the gaging depressionsat a distance sufficiently greater than the actual differences'of widthof the seasoned lumber to allow for shrinkage; that is, if a: denotesthe standard difference in width of lumber, and 8 denotes the shrinkagefor the width 0, the spacing of the depressions j is made equal to a+s,and the distance from center to center of any two gage-hubs on thegage-rod will be ((8-1-8), Where n is any integral number, when thespecial-lock is not in use (see Fig. 21). It remains now to provide forthe saw-kerfs, which so far as I know has not yet been accomplished inthe construction of edgers. If this is not done, then every slab whichis sawed into one board will be short in width by the width of onesawkerf; if sawed into two boards, it will be a convenient number tosome extent adjustably to the gage-hub in the manner illustrated inFigs. M and 17 The inner face f of the gage-hub J, to

which the bar 2' is secured, is underlaid by a pair of tubular recessesj, which are connected with the'face 1' by slots j through which passclamping-bolts 71 the nuts 2' of these bolts being disposed in saidrecesses j This enables the gage-hub to be adjusted ashort distancelaterallyiwith respect to the bar 2', and clamped in its adjustedposition. Now the relative posi tions of any two adjacent guide-carriersis so arranged that, when the distance from center to center of the twogage-hubs is of lumber widths 72-(66-I-8) the distance from center tocenter of the corresponding. guide-carriers is n(a+s)+]c, where is thewidth of the saw-kerf;- so that the actual width of the board sawed withthe guide-carriers in this position would be n(d+s). An exception tothis rule is found between the two middle guide-carriers and gage-hubs,where, when the two carriers are set to an even lumber width plus thekerf, n(a+s) +k, the distance betweenthe gage-hubs may be any quantity,n(ai'+'s)+g, suitable to dispose the gage-hubs at a convenient place atopposite sides of the machine where theywill be out of the way of thelumber and can be readily reached by the operatives. This grouping,however is not an essential feature as measurements may begin at thecenter. It will be seen that by this arrange- Inent,each saw-kerf thatis actually made, and no more, is provided for, whether the slab be cutinto two, three or more widths; and that the width as cut will beexactly correct; 7

It will be understood, of course, that the width of kerf differs to aslight extent with 7 different saws, and therefore the relativedistances between the gage-hubs and guidecarriers will be adjusted tothe saw-kerf in the individual machine by shifting the bar 2?" on thegage-hub before tightening up the bolts 2'. When the correct adjustmenthas been attained, the bolts 2' are turned up tight, and a hole d j,bored and tapped in the bar 2' and gage-hub, in whichis inserted acap-screw i", which looks the adjustment To secure lubrication in thesliding movements of the gage-hub, I provide a lubrt cant-chamber 3'which may be packed with I oil-sa-turated waste 3' s In the mounting ofthe saws on the sawarbor the difficulty with previous constructions hasbeen to secure a wide enough mounting while at the same time permittingthe saws to come close together. If the sawcollars be made narrow, theywill soon become loose and wabbly by continual sidewise shifting.Furthermore, the old form of saw-collar is subject to great diflicultyin maintaining proper lubrication, as oil will not readily remain on theshaft when it is turning at a high rate of speed, and if thrown orpoured on to the shaft will be scattered by centrifugal force. In myimproved construction of saw-collars, Figs.

22 to 26, the collar itself G is made .narrow, this collar being reducedand threaded at g to receive the clamping-nut g which holds the saw L inplace. The lateral bearing-surface upon the shaft is formed by twoelongated keys 9 which are fixed in grooves g in the collar and slide inslots 6 in the shaft E, the ends of said keys extending be yond the endsof the collars G a considerable distance, but preferably not greaterthan half the width of the collar. Now it will be seen from Figs. 22,23, Qt, and 26 that I have provided four grooves e in the shaft and fourcorresponding grooves 9* in each collar, but that any one collar carrieskeys 9 in only two of the grooves, in which they are secured by screws 9This enables the keys on any collar to be received in the correspondinggrooves of the adjacent collar when the two saws are moved closetogether, so that the keys do not in any way interfere with theapproaching of the saws. I of course realize that whileI have shown fourgrooves, any other number of grooves might be provided, the principlebeing that the keys are fixed in one collar opposite to vacant groovesin the next. In addition, I provide lubricating means in the form of aset of chambers 9 between the grooves 9, these chambers being packedwith oil-saturated waste 9 to which access is had for lubricationthrough the holes 9 Referring now to the means of mounting the saw-shaftE, I have shown in Figs. 27 to 29 my improved water-cooled bridge-treeF, and means for removing it when it is desired to remove the saws fromthe shaft. Said bridge-tree rests upon pedestals a on the frame-castingsA, and is secured thereto by bolts f and it has an interior chamber fconnected at its ends with inlet and outlet-pipes f and F, by means ofwhich a continuous water-circulation can be maintained to cool thebearing-surface. The bearing f, is covered by a cap f which is securedto the bridge-tree by bolts 7. For removing the bridge-tree I provide acrane K, which is pivoted upon a pair of studs 70 on the frame-casting Aand has at its end a depending pin 7%, from the end of which issuspended a yoke 70*, whose ends are perforated to pass over the boltsj, and they may be secured thereto by extra nuts f. The joints betweenthe bolt 70*, the crane K, and the yoke 7 are loose to permit'ofsufficient sidewise movement in removing the bridge-tree to permit ofthe latter moving in a straight line until it is free of the end of theshaft. When the bridge-tree is to be removed, it is simply necessary toslacken the bolts that hold bridge-tree at its ends and pull thebridge-tree off, the crane always carrying nearly the whole weight ofbridge-tree K, and then swing it back into the dotted-line position asshown in Fig. :28, whereupon the shaft is free to permit the saws to betaken off or put on. As this is a frequent operation in machines of thisclass such a device is very desirable to enable the operation to bequickly performed without using any extra manual assistance.

Considering now the feed-mechanism, I provide a novel arrangement ofstepped pulleys furnishing two rates of feed. The feed-mechanism is asfollows: The feedrolls proper M, turning in bearings in theframe-castings A, are driven from supplementary shafts N which areconnected with a the feed-rolls by pinions n meshing with almular gearsm on the ends of thi j feedroll shafts, such annular gears being ofpeculiar construction, inasmuch as the clearances between the teeth ofsaid gears are H formed as slots m in the periphery of the gears (Fig.37),. The purpose of this construction is to prevent said gears frombecoming encumbered with sawdust, which in the ordinary form of gearinglodges between the .teeth and becomes continually more compacted by thepressure of the points of the interm'eshing gear, until finally thegearing becomes too much clogged to run. In my construction the sawdust,as fast as it is pressed down by the pinion teeth, passes out throughthe slots m and therefore never reaches the clogging point.

On the end of each shaft N is mounted a main feed-roll drivin -aulle nwhich has two belt-faces n n separated by a conical face Cooperatingwith these pulleys is the small pulley 0 previously mentioned, which haslikewise two faces 0, 0 separated by an intermediate conical face 0 Overall three pulleys runs a driving-belt 0 and this belt runs also aroundthe tightenerpulley P, which is slung upon a forked bar p pivoted upon apin p and weighted on the end opposite the pulley by the slidingweight79 It will be observed that the position of the pivot 72 with relationto the pulley is such as to produce a considerable tension upon thebelt, which is practically independent of its position on one or otherof the two sets of driving-faces of the three pulleys, and that inshifting the belt from one set of driving faces to the other, thetightener-pulley P will move up or down as the position of the beltrequires. In order to shift the belt, I provide a shifting-fork Q,sliding in a socket g on the frame-casting A, said fork having a pair ofdepending prongs 9 one on each side of the belt, and as the fork ismoved from one side to the .other, the belt will be caused to run on oneor other set of driving-pulley faces, the tightener-pulley P varying inposition accordingly. To shift the fork Q, a series of rack-teeth Q3 arecut on its under side, and a rock-shaft is pivoted transversely to it inthe socket g, carrying in a recess 9'' a pinion which meshes with therack-teeth Q3, and said shaft carries on its face end a. rock-arm Q7, onone end of which is a weight Q8 which acts as a tumble-bob to maintainthe belt in the position to which it is shifted, said weight lying onone side of the shaft in one position of the belt and on the other sidein the other position.

Considering now the press-roll-operating mechanism, which is shown indetail in Figs. 32 to 35 inclusive, a fixed cylindrical trunk R, whichmay be cored out internally, is mounted in upright position upon themiddle of the cross-bars C by means of supporting lugs r, and the shaftD, which acts as a pivot for the swing-arms hereinafter mentioned, isalso braced against said trunk by means of a depending yoke 7 providedwith a socket 0' therefor and cap 7*". The

press-rolls S are mounted on shafts .9 turn ing on the ends of theswing-arms 3 which as aforesaid ,turn about the shaft D as an axis. Uponthe trunk R slides the upright cylinder T, and is made steam-tighttherewith by packing-rings 9' on the periphery of the trunk. Thecylinder T has lateral ears t for connecting it by forked links t withthe swing-arms 8 the links being pivoted upon pins t carried by ears .9on the swing-arms, and having slots 6* at their upper ends through whichpass bolts i mounted on the ears t, and through the center of the trunkR passes a steam-pipe U, which opens into the cylinder-chamber Ifthrough a valve-seated orifice r, and is divided at some convenientpoint into two branches u 162, between which and the pipe U is athree-way valve u One of the branches, to, is connected with a source ofsteam-supply, while the other, 10 is an exhaust-pipe which may open intothe air or a condenser; so that when the handle of the valve 16- isturned to connect the pipe U with the branch at, the steam enters thecylinder-chamber t and raises the cylinder and press-rolls to permit theinsertion of any size of joist or beam V, Fig. 33; and when the lumberhas been inserted the handle of the valve u is turned into the oppositeposition so as to connect the pipe U with the exhaust-branch a therebyreleasing the steam in the cylinder and allowing the press-rolls to falland rest upon the lumber. In order, however, to prevent any sudden dropof the press-rolls which would bring undue shock upon the machine Iprovide cushioning-means in the form of a disk-valve 2., which ismounted on the free end of a screw-stud t threaded into the head of thecylinder T coaXially with the orifice 0"; said valve being supported bythe head t of the stud and being free to move vertically thereon. Whenthe cylinder reaches a certain point in its descent, predetermined bythe position to which the stud t is adjusted by the application of awrench to its squared end 25 the valve-disk t will rest upon its seat 1,closing the orifice r and thereby confining the remaining steam withinthe cylinder and cushioning the descent, as the steam now only escapesor condenses slowly for the rest of the distance. Moreover, I provide asafety-device which prevents the turning on of the steam from raisingthe cylinder too high, this safety-device being in the form of awaste-weir or relief-aperture t" on one side of the cylinder, connectedwith an exhaust-pipe 25 by a sliding or telescoping-joint consisting ofone pipe sliding within the other and connected by a packing so as notto interfere with the continuity of the duct. As soon as the cylinderhas risen to the point at which the waste-weir t is above the edge ofthe trunk R, the steam will escape through the pipe as fast as it flowsin, thus limiting the upward movement.

IVhile I have hereinabove shown the most improved form of my invention,I wish it understood that not all of the features areessential theretoor necessarily made in the exact form shown, butvarious changes andmodifications in the constructions as herein shown may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and I wish it understoodtherefore that the latter is not otherwise limited than by the scope ofmy claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a guide-rod of a guide-carrier having anon-rotatable hub and sliding freely upon said guide rod and a saw-guidepivoted on the hub of said carrier.

2; The combination with a guide-rod of a guide-carrier sliding freelythereon and a pair of saw-guides pivoted on opposite sides of saidcarrier laterally separable and adapted to bear on opposite sides of thesaw, and means for holding said guides immovable laterally when innormal operative position.

3. The combination of a guide-carrier having a pair of upstanding lugs011 the innor side thereof, said lugs converging downwardly and havingabrupt upper ends, and a pair of saw-guides pivotally mounted on saidcarrier and having corresponding oblique recesses, one on eachsaw-guide, fitting over said lugs and engaging the ends thereof whensaid carriers are in operative position; whereby a downward movement ofeither saw-guide is accompanied by an inward movement toward the face ofthe saw and an upward movement is accompanied by a retiring movementaway from the saw.

l. A saw-guide comprising in combination a hub-member, and an arm-memberrotatable thereon and having at its free end means adapted to bearagainst the face of a saw; one of said members having a helicoidal finextending through a small angle, and the other a correspondinghelicoidal recess adapted to interlock with said fin; the angle ofobliquity and position of said fin and recess being such that saidarm-mem her in rotating toward said saw is caused to approach itlaterally and in rotating away from said saw is caused to depart from itlaterally.

5. A saw-guide comprising in combina tion a hub-member, and anarm-member rotatable thereon and having at its free end means adapted tobear against the face of a saw; one of said members having a helicoidalfin extending through a small angle, and the other a correspondinghelicoidal recess adapted to interlock with said fin; the angle ofobliquity and position of said fin and recess being such that saidarm-member in rotating toward said saw is caused to approach itlaterally and in rotating away from said saw is caused to depart from itlaterally; said helicoidal fin and recess being disengaged when saidarm-member is turned through a certain angle from its bearing position,thereby leaving said arm member free and separable from said hubmember.

6. A saw-guide comprising in combination a hubmember, and an arm-memberrotatable thereon and having at its free end means adapted to bearagainst the face of a saw; one of said members having ahelicoidal finextending through a small angle, and the other a correspondinghelicoidal recess adapted to interlock with said fin; the angle ofobliquity and position of said fin and recess being such that saidarm-member in rotating toward said saw is caused to approach itlaterally and in rotating away from said saw is caused to depart from itlaterally; said fin and recess having interlocking abutting surfacessubstantially at an abrupt angle to the direction of movement which forma rest and support for the arm in its bearing-position.

7. A saw-guide comprising in combination a hub-member having ahelicoidal fin, the upper surface of said fin forming an abutment, andanarm-member having a recess of corresponding shape adapted to engage oversaid fin and to rotate on said hubmember; the position and angle ofobliquity of said fin and recess being such that when engaged saidarm-member is caused to move laterally toward the saw as it turns intobearing-position and move laterally away from it as it turns out ofbearing-position; said arm having on its free end a bearing surface; andsaid fin acting as a support for said arm in the bearing-position.

8. A saw-guide comprising in combination a hub-member having ahelicoidal fin, the upper surface of said fin forming an abutment, andan arm-member having a recess of corresponding shape adapted to engageover said fin and to rotate on said hubmember; the position and angle ofobliquity of said fin and recess being such that when engaged saidarm-member is caused to move laterally toward the saw as it turns intobearing-position and move laterally away from it as it turns out ofbearing-position; said arm having on its free end a bearingsurface; andsaid fin acting as a support for said arm. in the bearing-position; andsaid arm being furthermore disengaged from said fin in the raisedposition whereby it can be moved away from and completely separated fromsaid hub-member.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day ofFebruary, 1910, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY TROUT.

Witnesses G. R. THOMPSON, MARIE KLoss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D 0.?

